Follow your heart, not the herd

If you’re not looking for a degree but still want to challenge yourself and learn something new, our nondegree program is just the adventure you’re looking for.  

You are welcome to take classes on a part-time or full-time basis without working toward a degree at Iowa State. Nondegree students generally don't quality for financial aid.

Learning opportunities

Take classes alone or as part of one of these off-campus and distance learning opportunities.

Requirements

Undergraduate students

If you wish to take undergraduate classes on-campus, on either a part-time or a full-time basis, but are not seeking a degree at Iowa State University, you should apply as a nondegree undergraduate.

The opportunity for high school students to enroll at Iowa State University before they graduate is intended primarily for high ability students who have exhausted their high school course offerings in certain subject areas and who clearly demonstrate that they are ready for collegiate level course work in those areas.

To be considered for admission, you must submit the following documents: a nondegree application for admission, official high school transcript, a letter of permission from parent or guardian, and a letter of support from your school counselor. In addition, if you wish to take the Iowa State courses through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEOA), you must also submit the PSEOA form.

Applicants who at minimum rank in the top half of their graduating class, who meet all necessary prerequisites for the course(s) they wish to register for at Iowa State, and who have earned high grades in those respective subject area(s) in high school are generally offered admission.

If you have not yet attended another university, you may apply for admission if you ranked in the top half of your high school class

You must have completed the following high school courses: 4 years of English, 3 years of math (including one year each of algebra, geometry and advanced algebra), 3 years of science (including one year each of two of the following: biology, chemistry and physics) and 2 years of social science. You do not need to send your high school transcript.

If you have not yet attended another university, you may apply for admission if you scored above the 50th percentile on the GED examination. You must have completed the following high school courses: 4 years of English, 3 years of math (including one year each of algebra, geometry and advanced algebra), 3 years of science (including one year each of two of the following: biology, chemistry and physics) and 2 years of social science, or you may meet individual course requirements by achieving a score in the 75th percentile in that particular subject on the GED examination.

You are eligible to apply for admission if you have completed at least 24 semester credits of transferable coursework from another accredited college or university and you have earned a minimum 2.25 transfer GPA, you will be approved for admission (note: applicants who've earned an associate's degree may be admitted with at least a 2.00 transfer GPA).

If you have completed fewer than 24 semester credits of transferable coursework, you must also meet the requirements listed above for high school graduates. You do not need to send your previous college transcripts. You may be asked to document that you have met specific course prerequisites.

You may request an individual review of your application by indicating on your application form which admission requirements you do not meet and why you feel an exception may be warranted.

For the purpose of applying for admission to Iowa State University, English may be considered your primary language only if you have been raised in an environment where English is the only official language of your locality and nation, and English has been the primary language used in your home.

Applicants whose primary language is not English must meet the English proficiency requirement by any one of the options listed below.

International students transferring from a U.S. college: The English proficiency requirement can be waived if you have completed a course equivalent to Iowa State University's English 150 or English 250 with a grade of B or better from an accredited U.S. two-year or four-year college or university.

Option Minimum Score or Grade Required
TOEFL Internet-Based TOEFL (IBT) score of 71 with a minimum score of 17 in both the Writing and Speaking sections
Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) score of 530
IELTS Overall band score of 6.0 with no sub score below 5.5
PTE Score of 48
SAT If test was taken prior to March 2016, Critical Reading (CR) score of 420
If test was taken in March 2016 or later, Evidence-Based Writing and Reading (EWR) score of 460
ACT English sub score of 19

Scores from any of the exams above must be sent to Iowa State University directly from the testing agency. Scanned copies, photocopies, and web results are not accepted. Below is the Iowa State University reporting code used by each testing agency:

Testing Agency Iowa State University Code
TOEFL 6306
SAT 6306
ACT 1320
IELTS IELTS does not utilize institutional codes
PTE PTE does not utilize institutional codes

If you have a Student Visa or Exchange Visitor Visa, and require an F-1 or J-1 visa eligibility form (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) from Iowa State University, you must submit official academic transcripts from the last school you attended. You should also provide proof of sufficient financial resources to cover your tuition and living expenses for full-time study for the duration of your stay (Review Estimated Expenses.) This is necessary to meet U.S. government requirements in issuing the visa eligibility form. (International students at other U.S. universities who want to attend summer session(s) only do not need a visa eligibility form from Iowa State.)

Nonimmigrants on other visas should check with an international student advisor in the International Student and Scholars Office for information regarding restrictions that may apply under their visa status.

If you have been charged with a violation of law, you may be required to furnish the university with copies of all official documentation explaining the final disposition of the proceedings.

If your records have been expunged pursuant to applicable law, you are not required to answer yes to that question on the application. An answer of yes will not automatically exclude you from admission, but it will be considered when evaluating your application. If you are unsure whether you should answer yes to this question, we suggest that you answer yes and fully disclose all incidents. By doing so, you can avoid any risk of disciplinary action or revocation of an offer of admission.

Graduate students

If you wish to take graduate classes on campus, on either a part-time or a full-time basis, but are not seeking a graduate degree at Iowa State University, you should apply as a nondegree graduate student.

If you have earned a bachelor's or advanced degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting association and have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.00/4.00, you are eligible to apply as a nondegree graduate.

If you earned your degree from a non-U.S. college or university that is recognized by the Ministry of Education of that country, the degree is comparable to a US bachelor's, and your academic performance is deemed similar to a 3.00/4.00 grading scale by the Office of Admissions, you are eligible to apply as a nondegree graduate.

Please write the name of the institution where you earned your degree(s) on the application, the full name of the degree you obtained, and the month and year it was earned, and your GPA. The university reserves the right to verify this information with your previous school(s).

If you have less than a 3.00 cumulative GPA, you may request individual review by submitting your official academic transcripts and a letter indicating your educational goals in enrolling as a nondegree graduate.

If you wish to later apply for an advanced degree at Iowa State University, you will need to submit a degree-seeking graduate application, application fee, and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

If you are admitted to a graduate degree program, your program of study committee will recommend to the Graduate College which of your nondegree graduate courses (if any) will count toward your degree program, up to a maximum of nine semester credits.

If English is not your primary language, you need to show that you have met the university's minimum English proficiency requirements before taking classes. This can be done by submitting one of the following items:

  1. An Internet-Based TOEFL score of 79
  2. A Paper-Based TOEFL score of 550
  3. An IELTS score of 6.5
  4. A bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree from the U.S. or a country in which English is the only official language

If you have a Student Visa or Exchange Visitor Visa, and require an F-1 or J-1 visa eligibility form (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) from Iowa State University, you must submit official academic transcripts from the last school you attended, and a statement of your educational goals for enrolling as a nondegree graduate.

You should also provide proof of sufficient financial resources to cover your tuition and living expenses for full-time study for the duration of your stay (review Estimated Expenses.) This is necessary to meet U.S. government requirements in issuing the visa eligibility form. (International students at other U.S. universities who want to attend summer session(s) only do not need a visa eligibility form from Iowa State.)

Nonimmigrants on other visas should check with an international student advisor in the International Student and Scholars Office for information regarding restrictions that may apply under their visa status.

You should not apply as a Nondegree Graduate Applicant. Select Graduate on the application page.

If you have been charged with a violation of law, you may be required to furnish the university with copies of all official documentation explaining the final disposition of the proceedings.

If your records have been expunged pursuant to applicable law, you are not required to answer yes to that question on the application. An answer of yes will not automatically exclude you from admission, but it will be considered when evaluating your application. If you are unsure whether you should answer yes to this question, we suggest that you answer yes and fully disclose all incidents. By doing so, you can avoid any risk of disciplinary action or revocation of an offer of admission.